Heavy Snow in French Alps

17th August 2012 | Patrick Thorne

Flaine December 2008

Chamonix and neighbouring Argentiere as was resorts around Flaine in the Grand Massif were beneficiaries. Chamonix now has some of the deepest snow in the French Alps with a 330cm (11 foot) base on upper slopes.
"In the Portes du Soleil it has been dumping non stop since Monday night. I'm driving down from Avoriaz at the moment and its a snowchains job - not that usual for the end of March." Said Xavier Schouller of tour operator Peak Retreats.
Caroline Stauder of Les Carroz d'Araches told Skiinfo Francce, "The season has been very good. Since the early opening of the ski domain over the weekend of December 13th and 14th we have benefited from exceptional snow coverage. In the middle of March we still had 110cm (nearly four feet) of snow in the resort. The snow coverage is also of remarkably high quality. It was cold in February and in March the temperatures remained cold for the time of year. With this currently snow quality, the Spring sunshine and the uncrowded slopes make now a great time to ski. But with the recent big snowfalls the avalanche risk has now past in 3 out of a maximum 5, so be careful."

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